As Henry returns from New York, the man who replaced Pele at the Cosmos tells how he came back to set up Manchester's new empire
Manhattan's skyscrapers offer spectacular views but during his days at the New York Cosmos, the glamour club of the North American Soccer League in the 1970s, Dennis Tueart had a glimpse of something even bigger: the future.
His bold decision to leave Manchester City for the Cosmos in 1978, making him the first England international to join the NASL full-time, offered Tueart a taste of what would become a reality in English football, not least the blue half of Manchester: a club with mega-bucks owners, studded with world stars.
This was nowhere more visible than in the Cosmos offices high in the heart of the Big Apple. "We were owned by Warner Communications, a multi-million-dollar organisation. In England the football clubs were owned by the local entrepreneur," says Tueart. "The Warner building was in Rockefeller Plaza and the Cosmos offices were on the 19th floor. As the elevator doors opened, there was a life-size picture of Pele and Franz Beckenbauer on one side – and on the other side Carlos Alberto and Dennis Tueart."
Tueart, who arrived in 1978 as Pele's replacement, saw "how close business and sport are linked" – something which would serve him well both as a City director and in running his conference business. He also experienced "a dressing room of 13 nationalities", providing a foretaste of the "global mercenary culture" pervading today's Premier League, along with staggered kick-off times, private club jets and brand-flogging tours to faraway places.
For New York Cosmos 1978, read Manchester City 2012. While Tueart relished playing alongside Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto and Johan Neeskens – "they never, ever entered the comfort zone" – he fears the same does not apply to some players today and is not surprised City's ego surplus has created problems. "I knew it would come sooner or later," he says of the Carlos Tevez problem.
"Tevez is not going to get as well paid as we are paying him anywhere. I can't understand it [but] I'm sure he has his reasons and his advisers, in particular. What a manager like Mancini needs is to be strong but also he had to have good support from the owners. You have to have a team ethic. They have that now because Mancini has worked hard at it, he doesn't suffer fools and he doesn't bow down to individual people's ego."
David Silva is the current favourite of Tueart (pictured), who hit 108 goals in 268 games in two spells at Maine Road. "He's interchangeable – he can play off the one, he can play left, he can play right. No matter where he receives the ball, he looks comfortable."
Tueart would have suited Mancini's fluid front line, given his own "wide striker" role. At Sunderland, where he won the 1973 FA Cup, he and Billy Hughes played either side of Vic Halom; with City's 1976 League Cup-winning side he and Peter Barnes buzzed around Joe Royle. "I used to chase Barnes over to the right wing occasionally and say 'go and have a go at him' – full-backs were used to having people go down the outside. Now Ashley Young plays on the wrong side, so does [Lionel] Messi. You could say I was about 30 years ahead of my time."
Tueart's overhead kick won the League Cup at the expense of Newcastle, his boyhood team. It was City's last trophy until last season's FA Cup. "It was great for me to keep being mentioned but the club is far too big to be reminiscing for such a long time," says the 61-year-old, whose new book My Football Journey documents how he laid the foundations for today's success as a director from 1997-2007. "The academy, the communications, the relationship with the supporters, the new stadium, that was all in place."
He is confident there will not be another 36-year wait for silverware but has concerns about City's title bid. "If we beat Manchester United in the FA Cup, it means that United will only have two trophies to be involved in while [City] would have four. That will be a test for Mancini, to manage his resources." Still, the view, as in Manhattan all those years ago, is pretty good.
Dennis Tueart's autobiography
My Football Journey is published by Vision Sports, £18.99. Royalties from the book will be donated to the teenage and young adult cancer unit at The Christie cancer centre.
Cosmopolitan lifestyle
Dennis Tueart scored City's winner in the 1976 League Cup final and then struck twice as the Cosmos won the 1978 NASL Championship final.
The Cosmos were bankrolled by Warner Communications and run by Turkish brothers Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun. City's Sheikh Mansour is a member of Abu Dhabi's royal family.
The Cosmos flew on Warner's jet; City have a sky blue Etihad place.
Where City have Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, the Cosmos had former Lazio and Italy striker Giorgio Chinaglia, son of a Cardiff restaurateur who once punched a club executive after a disagreement over expenses.
Mick Jagger and Henry Kissinger were regulars in the Cosmos' locker room. City's biggest celebrity fans are the Gallagher brothers.
Landlord bans Man City's Balotelli from own apartment
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has been banned from his own apartment.
The Sunday Mirror says Balotelli has been banned from returning to his £3million mansion ... by his landlord who wants compensation for a trail of damage.
The volatile Manchester City striker is still living in a city-centre hotel more than three months after a firework was let off in a bathroom at his £2,000-a-week rented Cheshire house.
And the Italian, 21, is now in a stand-off with the landlord, who won’t let him back in until he settles a damages bill running to tens of thousands of pounds.
The sum includes fire damage and the wrecking of expensive dining room chairs.
But Balotelli – paid £100,000 a week – is disputing the level of the bill and is refusing to pay up.
Mario Balotelli targeted as AC Milan 'eye double Manchester City raid'
Mario Balotelli is set to be the subject of a summer of transfer speculation, after reports in Italy claimed AC Milan are planning a double raid on Manchester City.
The identity of their first target is an open secret, as Rossoneri officials have publicly discussed their desire to sign City rebel Carlos Tevez in January.
AC Milan want Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez (Getty Images) Citizens fans are likely to be much more concerned about claims the Serie A champions intend to follow that up with a move for cult hero Balotelli at the end of the season.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Milan will allow Alexandre Pato to join Paris Saint-Germain in a £38.5million deal next month and will then use the money to fund bids for the City duo.
Balotelli was linked with the club he supported as a boy last summer, after he admitted to being unhappy with life in Manchester.
.Despite reports of numerous off-field escapades, the 21-year-old has scored 11 times this season and now appears to be settled at the Etihad Stadium, so any bid is likely to be resisted by City boss Roberto Mancini.
Meanwhile, Milan's attempts to land Tevez have stalled, as they want to take him on loan with a view to a long-term deal, but City have demanded a £20million permanent transfer.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
England captain John Terry is believed to be a target for China's top two clubs, Shanghai Shenhua and Guangzhou Evergrande. Daily Express
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to sign Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and is considering making a £15m bid for the Dutch international during the January transfer window. Caughtoffside
Meanwhile, Gunners winger Theo Walcott and the club are believed to be at war over his demand for a new £85,000-a-week, four-year deal.Daily Star
Germany and FC Cologne striker Lukas Podolski remains Arsenal's top striker target for the January window. Daily Mirror
Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock wants to make four signings in January, including one as early as Monday, as he strives to arrest his club's slide down the Premier League table. Sky Sports
And Qatar-based club Al-Sadd are ready to match QPR's £15m valuation of unhappy midfielder Adel Taarabt. Daily Mirror
New Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti could make an ambitious move for Manchester United winger Nani. Caughtoffside
Meanwhile, United are also in danger of losing teenage attacking sensation Ravel Morrison to Europe's biggest clubs for just £300,000 compensation. Daily Mirror
Manchester United are refusing to comment on speculation that striker Wayne Rooney was dropped from the team that lost to Blackburn on New Year's Eve because of a row with manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Daily Mail
Arsene Wenger could offer Arsenal legend Thierry Henry the job as his new number two at the Emirates Stadium. Daily Star
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has warned Bolton defender Gary Cahill not to price himself out of a dream move to Stamford Bridge. the Sun
All the talk may be about Thierry Henry's return to Arsenal on a two-month loan, but it was another former Gunners captain who was the main attraction on Saturday, as Tony Adams returned to the Emirates Stadium to admire a statue of himself. Metro
MORE B*LL*X SOON ...
